diff --git a/lib/reporters/base.js b/lib/reporters/base.js
index b552e09756..aba25d04f7 100644
--- a/lib/reporters/base.js
+++ b/lib/reporters/base.js
@@ -172,17 +172,14 @@ function stringifyDiffObjs (err) {
  * The diff will be either inline or unified dependant on the value
  * of `Base.inlineDiff`.
  *
- * @api private
- * @param {String} actual
- * @param {String} expected
+ * @param {string} actual
+ * @param {string} expected
  * @return {string} Diff
  */
 var generateDiff = exports.generateDiff = function (actual, expected) {
-  if (exports.inlineDiffs) {
-    return inlineDiff(actual, expected);
-  } else {
-    return unifiedDiff(actual, expected);
-  }
+  return exports.inlineDiffs
+    ? inlineDiff(actual, expected)
+    : unifiedDiff(actual, expected);
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/test/reporters/base.spec.js b/test/reporters/base.spec.js
index 3cee5dd7f5..0225d792da 100644
--- a/test/reporters/base.spec.js
+++ b/test/reporters/base.spec.js
@@ -137,17 +137,23 @@ describe('Base reporter', function () {
   });
 
   describe('Diff generation', function () {
+    var oldInlineDiffs;
+
+    beforeEach(function () {
+      oldInlineDiffs = Base.inlineDiffs;
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+      Base.inlineDiffs = oldInlineDiffs;
+    });
+
     it('should generate unified diffs if `inlineDiff === false`', function () {
       var actual = 'a foo unified diff';
       var expected = 'a bar unified diff';
 
-      var oldInlineDiffs = Base.inlineDiffs;
       Base.inlineDiffs = false;
-
       var output = Base.generateDiff(actual, expected);
 
-      Base.inlineDiffs = oldInlineDiffs;
-
       expect(output).to.equal('\n      + expected - actual\n\n      -a foo unified diff\n      +a bar unified diff\n      ');
     });
 
@@ -155,13 +161,9 @@ describe('Base reporter', function () {
       var actual = 'a foo inline diff';
       var expected = 'a bar inline diff';
 
-      var oldInlineDiffs = Base.inlineDiffs;
       Base.inlineDiffs = true;
-
       var output = Base.generateDiff(actual, expected);
 
-      Base.inlineDiffs = oldInlineDiffs;
-
       expect(output).to.equal('      \n      actual expected\n      \n      a foobar inline diff\n      ');
     });
   });